London is a world-class city that offers residents and visitors alike just about everything, from concerts to pubs to modern amenities and beyond. Alas, sometimes what Londoners really want is just a bit of peace and quiet.
And that can appear difficult to get. After all, London is loud, and it’s getting louder. Take a walk through a busy neighbourhood on a busy afternoon, and you could be subjected to between 70 – 80 decibels of noise, which is more than loud enough to have an impact on your well-being, especially if it’s a daily occurrence.
Of course, we all (mostly) accept that living in the city means having to put up with sirens and other sounds that disturb the peace when we’re out on the town. However, what we don’t — or shouldn’t — accept is having London’s noise infiltrate our homes. If you’re looking to block out the city’s noise from your property or business, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at City Sound Glazing by calling 020 8523 3210 or by clicking here.
With that being said, let’s take a closer look at London’s noise problem, the impact it can have on your physical and mental health, and what you can do to restore some peace and quiet to your life.
What To Know About Noise Pollution
First, let’s clear up any confusion about noise pollution. This term simply refers to any unwanted, annoying, or harmful noise.
Think of it in the same terms as you would air pollution. Only instead of breathing in the pollution, it passes into your ears. Most of the world’s major cities have noise pollution, including London. More and more research into the effects of noise pollution has been carried out in the past few years, with results showing that high levels of noise pollution — like those found in London — can have a negative impact on an individual’s overall well-being.
Causes of Noise Pollution
London is a modern, forward-thinking city, but there’s a price to pay for it. Many of the things that we identify with modernity produce a sound, and there’s a lot of them in London. Let’s take a look at some of the primary causes of noise pollution in the city.
Cars
The World Health Organisation believes that noise from cars can be as damaging as air pollution. If you live in a relatively quiet street, then passing cars are unlikely to be too much of a disturbance. But if you live next to a main road? You may be dealing with loud, fast cars all day long. Throw on the blasting sirens of emergency vehicles on top, and you’ll have a lot of sound in the air.
Aeroplanes
You can hear aeroplanes when they’re way up in the sky. When they’re closer to the ground, the sound can be deafening. London has a bunch of major airports, including ones that are located next to residential areas. Homeowners in these areas are typically subject to the loud roar of a landing plane multiple times a day.
Animals
A barking dog can produce more than 70 decibels of sound. While a single bark is unlikely to disturb the peace too much, dogs that bark constantly — such as those left alone during the day — can have a negative impact on people living nearby.
Bars and Clubs
It’s not just inside bars and clubs where people have to deal with loud noises. The sounds often filter out of the establishment and into the homes of nearby residents. Additionally, patrons leaving the bar/club late at night can make a lot of noise, which disturbs the resting hours of locals.
Construction
There’s a reason why construction workers have to wear earmuffs when they’re working: construction sites can produce a lot of noise. A drill, for example, can produce in excess of 100 decibels.
Noise Pollution and Your Health
Exposure to unwanted, overly loud noises is not only annoying. It can also be damaging to your health, especially over a long-term period. Researchers have found a connection between exposure to loud noises and a range of serious health conditions, including heart failure and high blood pressure. It can also impact mental well-being, which can also produce long-term effects.
Let’s take a closer look at how excessive noise pollution can impact you.
Physical Health
An individual can learn to adapt to excessive noise, but their body can’t. Fundamentally, your body is unchanged from the days of your long-gone ancestors, and to them, loud noise means stress — and it does to your body, too.
A loud noise that enters your ears will be relayed to the stress part of your brain, which can create a domino effect of consequences. For instance, the nervous system can be overactivated, which can result in a spike in blood pressure and increased heart rate. Both of those things increase the likelihood of a stroke.
Mental Wellbeing
Your brain is excellent at using your ears to detect danger. In the pre-society world, it’s this asset that allowed our ancestors to thrive. While modern humans have retained this ability, the why and when it is used has changed significantly. Your brain can receive the ‘fight or flight’ signal multiple times a day despite there being no actual risk. The fight or flight response causes cortisol levels to rise, resulting in greater stress. Studies have also found a connection between exposure to noise pollution and increased rates of anxiety and depression. In addition, excessive noise can make it difficult to sleep, resulting in moodiness and irritability.
It’s thought that noise pollution can be especially damaging to children, who may experience stunted cognitive development, memory issues, and behavioural problems.
How Loud is London?
Noise pollution is a concern all over the world, but this concern is not distributed equally. Some places are louder than others. Cosmopolitan cities such as London are the loudest places on the planet.
London routinely appears on lists of the noisiest places in Europe, often in second, just behind Paris. So, how loud is the city? One study found that London residents are routinely subjected to noises above 80 decibels. For context, the World Health Organisation says that any noise that exceeds 53 decibels is unsafe.
The most common source of noise pollution in the city comes from traffic and tube travel. One study found that commuters on some sections of the underground can be exposed to sounds that exceed 100 decibels.
With increased traffic, outdated tube trains, and plenty of construction projects underway, London has arguably never been louder. Following the peaceful days of lockdown, noise volumes — and their negative consequences — have been increasing.
Fighting Against London Noise Pollution
You won’t stop London from being loud. That’ll require government action. But that doesn’t mean that you’re completely defensive against the impacts of noise pollution. Far from it, in fact — there are plenty of things you can do that’ll help to restore a sense of relaxation and calm to your everyday life. Let’s check out some of the most effective ways to keep the sounds of the city at bay.
Avoid the Loudest Parts of the City
London as a whole may be noisy, but there are parts that are noisier than others. There are also plenty of quiet areas, too.
For instance, many areas in central London, including Westminster and Soho, have average noise pollution of more than 70 decibels, which far exceeds the safety levels recommended by the World Health Organisation. Neighbourhoods adjacent to the M4 also scored highly. Quiet areas, such as around Hyde Park and along the Thames, had a much more manageable — and safe — noise ranking of around 40 – 50 decibels.
The loudest part of the city is underground, on the tube, where noise pollution can exceed 100 decibels. When possible, it’s recommended to use other travel options.
Wear Noise-Cancelling Headphones
If you can’t avoid going to the city’s noisiest neighbourhoods or taking the tube, then consider investing in noise-cancelling headphones. These will help to block out any unwanted sounds, ensuring you can have a smooth and stress-free journey.
Add Secondary Glazing
If you live in a loud environment, then it’s recommended to add secondary glazing to your property. At City Sound Glazing, we can install this type of glazing over your existing windows, allowing you to restore peace to your property without having to undergo major work.
We’ve been providing London homes with secondary glazing since 1968, and we’re confident that we can help prevent unwanted noise from entering your home. Our glazing can be installed on virtually every type of window and also preserves the original character of the building. Plus, in addition to reducing noise in your home, the glazing also helps enhance your home’s energy efficiency, resulting in reduced energy bills.
The Bottom Line on London and Noise Pollution
Greatness comes at a cost — and in London’s case, the cost is a lack of peace and quiet. Restore a sense of calm and serenity to your life by getting in touch to discuss our secondary glazing services.